Several groups have sued to block a new law restricting registration drives, The Associated Press is reporting.

The 2005 law limits organizations to 50 registration forms at a time, requires groups to record registrars with the secretary of state and provide information on them and give registrations to county clerks within 48 hours. Registering ineligible voters is subject to a $500 fine and-or up to six months in jail.

Advocates say the law has a chilling effect on registration drives and groups’ ability to urge people to get involved in politics.

The story goes on to say:

The lawsuit, filed today in state District Court in Albuquerque on behalf of four organizations, asks that the 2005 law be declared unconstitutional and that Secretary of State Mary Herrera be barred from enforcing it.

The "unduly onerous law" places an unconstitutional burden on the rights of free speech and association by hindering groups that help people register, and is inconsistent with the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, the organizations contend.

Similar laws have been challenged in other states, the story says. The League of Women Voters of Florida sued in April over a law that imposes fines if groups do not turn in voter registrations by deadlines. Florida enacted the law after an earlier law was declared unconstitutional in 2006. A federal judge in Ohio set aside provisions of Ohio’s election reform law in 2006, saying rules seemed to set up barriers to registering voters.